Treatment for hides and skins



Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY DODGE, OF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

TREATMENT FOR HIDES AND SKINS.

No Drawing. Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to the treatment of hides and skins, more particularly to the curing of the latter prior to the tanning thereof, and has for its object the curing, in a manner 5 as hereinafter set forth, of hides and skins to increase the quality thereof after tanning.

Hides and skins substance consists of animal flesh on one side and grain on the other side held together by fibers similar to fine threads. These fibers are all inlaid in a gelatinous substance. The object in conditioning hides and skins for the purpose of being tanned into leather is to set this gelatinous substance more solid and at the same time 1 not allow it to run or be forced out, and it is the primary object of this invention to cure in a manner whereby more of this gelatinous substance will be held in the hide or skin than heretofore, so when cured the hide or skin will have more substance, more gelatin, and more weight resulting when tanned into leather in a higher quality or rating in the market, than would be the case if the hides and skins were cured in salt as in accordance with the method now generally used.

The hides and skins when cured, in accordance with this invention, are treated with a composition consisting of common salt, nitre, either potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, bicarbonate of soda and formaldehyde. The said several materials can be either used combined with water to form a bath for the hides or skins or combined without water and applied to the flesh side of the hide or skin.

Preferably the method of curing hides and skins, in accordance with this invention, to every 100 pounds of hides or skins, consists in placing into a receptacle a body of cold water of an amount capable of submerging the skins therein. Salt is then added to the water until a. Twaddell No. 1 hydrometer will register from ten to thirty five. Then there is dissolved from one eighth of a pound to three pounds of nitre, either potassium nitrate or nitre NaNO and which is added to the salt and water. After the adding of the nitre, there is dissolved from one-eighth of a pound to two pounds of bicarbonate of soda and which is then added to the mixture in 1927. Serial No. 204,428.

the receptacle. After the bicarbonate of soda has been added to the mixture there is placed into the latter from one-eighth of a pound toone pound of formaldehyde. After the solution or bath has been formed the hides or skins are placed therein. When the hides or skins have absorbed enough of the solution they are removed therefrom and stacked into piles and allowed to lay until they have taken up all the solution possible by the pressing in piles and which probably will take from one week to six months to condition. The longer the time the skins or hides are allowed to lay in wet packs the bet ter they are conditioned.

When the skins taken from the animals are to be dried and shipped, they are sub mitted to the bath, in accordance with this invention before drying. When the skins are to be kept in a wet state, they are allowed to cool for five or six hours in order for the animal heat to leave them, the several ingredients aforesaid are admixed together without water and are rubbed on the flesh side of the hide, or the skins are placed in the bath as many times as desired. The number of times to which the skins are subjected to the solution or bath just depends on how long the hides or skins are to be kept before being shipped or tanned into leather.

By treating the hides or skins in the manner as stated, the gelatinous substance is set in a more solid manner and at the same time not allowed to run out of the skins or hides whereby the hides or skins will hold more of this gelatinous substance while curing, also the skins will accept a greater per cent of salt, therefore, the skins when cured will have more substance, more gelatin, and more weight and which will result, when tanned into leather, of a higher quality and higher rating, than would be the case if the same skins had been cured by the salt method now generally in use.

It is thought the many advantages derived from the treatment of hides and skins, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the proportions of the sev- Q noes- 01 oral ingredients or substances can be had 2. In the curing of hides and skins, the which will fall Within the scope of the insubjeotlng them for a sultable period to a 10 Vention as claimed. bath consisting of water, salt, nitre, bicar- Vhat I claim is: bonate of soda and formaldehyde. 1. In the curing of hides and skins the ap- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature plying thereto 01 a composition including hereto. salt, nitre, bicarbonate of soda and formaL dehyde. i HARRY DODGE. 

